e men probably would be caught. Some one of them was something to
him, and you can just spot him for one of the men at the bottom of your
troubles, and urging those younger fellows to steal from you. I suppose
he'd promised to divide. You settle with him, and that business will
stop."

She turned to Freckles. "And you be the happiest man alive, because you
have kept your trust. Go look where I tell you and you'll find the logs.
I can see just about where they are. When they go up that steep little
hill, into the next woods after the cornfield, why, they could unloose
the chains and the logs would roll from the wagons themselves. Now, you
go look; and Mr. McLean, you do feel that Freckles has been brave and
faithful? You won't love him any the less even if you don't find the
logs."

The Angel's nerve gave way and she began to cry. Freckles could not
endure it. He almost ran from the room, with the tears in his eyes; but
McLean took the Angel from the Bird Woman's arms, and kissed her brave
little face, stroked her hair, and petted her into quietness before he
left.

As they drove to the swamp, McLean so earnestly seconded all that the
Angel had said that he soon had the boy feeling much better.

"Freckles, your Angel has a spice of the devil in her, but she's superb!
You needn't spend any time questioning or bewailing anything she does.
Just worship blindly, my boy. By heaven! she's sense, courage, and
beauty for half a dozen girls," said McLean.

"It's altogether right you are, sir," affirmed Freckles heartily.
Presently he added, "There's no question but the series is over now."

"Don't think it!" answered McLean. "The Bird Woman is working for
success, and success along any line is not won by being scared out. She
will be back on the usual day, and ten to one, the Angel will be with
her. They are made of pretty stern stuff, and they don't scare worth
a cent. Before I left, I told the Bird Woman it would be safe; and it
will. You may do your usual walking, but those four guards are there to
remain. They are under your orders absolutely. They are prohibited from
firing on any bird or molesting anything that you want to protect, but
there they remain, and this time it is useless for you to say one word.
I have listened to your pride too long. You are too precious to me, and
that voice of yours is too precious to the world to run any more risks."

"I am sorry to have anything spoil the series," said Freckles, "and